Abstract
Objective:To translate the Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ) into Standard Mandarin and then explore the reliability and validity of this newly translated measure in a large sample of Chinese middle school parents.Methods:We translated the MIPQ using the forward-backward method and pilot tested it on a sample of parents of adolescents (aged 12–16 years) in China. Following minor modifications, 1057 Chinese parents (Mothers or Fathers) in two middle schools (one in the North and one in the South of China) completed the translated Chinese Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (C-MIPQ). To determine test-retest reliability 121 participants completed the C-MIPQ again 2 weeks later. In order to test convergent validity, 395 participants completed the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire-Short Version (PSDQ-short) and the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale (IM-P). The Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), Beck Depression Scale (BDI-13), and socioeconomic status (SES) were completed in order to test discriminant validity.Results:Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-factor model indicated in the original study was a good fit. The total score of the scale and the scores of the two dimensions (‘Mindful discipline’ and ‘Being in the moment with the child’) were significantly positively correlated with the total score of the MAAS, IM-P and the authoritative parenting style in the PSDQ-short, demonstrating convergent validity. Discriminant validity was established as there was no difference in C-MIPQ sub-scale scores across any of the SES variables except for levels of education (parents with higher education had higher scores on the ‘being in the moment with the child’ subscale). In addition, the C-MIPQ was negatively related to stress and depression. Cronbach’s alpha of the total scale was 0.93 (and 0.88, 0.89 for the two dimensions of the C-MIPQ) indicating excellent internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was good (intra-class correlation of 0.83).Conclusion:This study is the first step toward establishing the psychometric properties of the C-MIPQ for measuring mindful parenting in parents of adolescents aged 12–16 years; additional studies will be needed in order to test this further.
Highlights
Adolescence is as an important stage of development with dramatic changes in cognitive, physical and psychological functions
We further evaluated the discriminant validity of the Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire (MIPQ) by testing the hypothesis that mindful parenting would not differ according to socioeconomic status variables
We further evaluated the discriminant validity of the MIPQ by testing the hypothesis that mindful parenting would not differ across different socioeconomic status
Summary
Adolescence is as an important stage of development with dramatic changes in cognitive, physical and psychological functions. Good mental health at this time is important. A social survey on the mental health status of adolescents in China’s nine provinces showed that twelve percent of adolescents had poor mental health (Research Group for the Survey on Chinese Adolescents’ Mental Health, 2013). Adolescent mental health is affected by multiple factors such as family, school and society. The family is the primary place for the socialization of young people and is important for individual growth and development. From the investigation of factors affecting the mental health of adolescents, it has been found that parenting is one of the main influences on the mental health of adolescents (Wolfradt et al, 2003; Gong and Paulson, 2017; Gouze et al, 2017)
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